Monday 1st June 2009

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale - Hole-in-the Wall - Striding Edge - Helvellyn - Swirral Edge - Catstycam - Patterdale

Distance: 7.6 miles     Total Ascent: 900 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Beautiful warm sunshine. 23oC.

Route Map

What a glorious morning it was, it made it well worth the effort of getting up early and being out on the fells at the crack of dawn. Perhaps this is the start of summer now but hopefully not the end just yet. A sustained spell until September would do nicely please!

The head of Grisedale from the bridge over Grisedale Beck.

Climbing the path to the Hole-in-the-Wall in glorious early morning sunshine.

The northern face of Saint Sunday Crag.

Climbing higher and it was getting pretty warm even this early.

Grisedale Valley.

Saint Sunday Crag and Fairfield.

Helvellyn and Catstycam from the Hole-in-the-Wall.

Today's route - Striding Edge to the left, across Helvellyn to Swirral Edge then Catstycam and a steep descent to Red Tarn. Select on the image to see a larger version.

Catstycam.

Red Tarn and Swirral Edge with Helvellyn Lower Man peeping across it.

Dollywaggon and Nethermost Pike.

Helvellyn across Striding Edge.

Crossing Striding Edge. The cross shelter and the trig. column are clearly visible on the summit of Helvellyn from here.

Striding Edge.

The sheep are on the point where the lower path crosses from the northern side to the southern and leads around the 'difficult for dogs to negotiate' Chimney.

Striding Edge from the rough climb to Helvellyn. There is someone descending The Chimney but we used the lower path that skirts around it to the right.

Catstycam across Red Tarn.

Striding Edge.

Again, from higher up - almost at the top now.

Fairfield across the cross shelter.

The summit is all mine this morning.

Swirral Edge and Catstycam, Ullswater beyond.

Casper at the trig. column.

'Not much to drink round here dad!'.

The view to the Coniston fells.

A panoramic view from Helvellyn. Select on the image to see a larger version.

Sparkling Red Tarn and Striding Edge.

A close-up on Ullswater.

Skiddaw from the cairn that marks the start of Swirral Edge.

Descending Swirral Edge to Catstycam.

Looking back up Swirral Edge to Helvellyn.

Helvellyn from the foot of Catstycam.

Still nothing to drink for the lad on Catstycam.

Striding Edge and Helvellyn across Red Tarn from the steep descent from Catstycam. Select on the image to see a larger version.

Swirral Edge from the main path.

'That's better.'

Helvellyn across Red Tarn.

Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstycam from the path back to the Hole-in-the-Wall.

Descending to Grisedale once more.

'That was alright, that walk'.

It was baking hot now and I'm glad I was out early today.

I couldn't resist a shot of Brothers Water on the way home...

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